Herpes recurrence sunburn

I have had HSV for many years....never was tested. I don't think there was a test back when I first contracted it. It really hasn't affected my life to any great degree and Valtrex does seen to greatly shorten outbreaks.

My question is suntan as a trigger. I realize that getting a sunburn or even just "some sun" is a known trigger.....but for me over the years, it really appears to be my only trigger.

What is it about getting too much sun that reactivates the virus?.... I would guess that maybe it is causing a skin reaction...as is HSV, but what else is there?

I have had HSV for 30 years and I pay attention to my body and when I get a recurrence.....the ONLY times it recurs is due to sun or more than average sexual activity.

I would like to hear any technical/scientific explanations..if there are any.

thanks

[gracefromHHP]

UV light is a known trigger for herpes.  Do you sunbath naked?

grace

[chrisalias]

No, I haven't been sunbathing naked.   So the excess sun causes something systemic to occur....to trigger the HSV.

I always thought it was a little odd because anxiety is supposed to be a frequent trigger as well and over my 30 years of having it, obviously I have had at least a few periods of tremendous anxiety. The anxiety NEVER triggered it.
Only sun and/or friction do the trick.

[chrisalias]

I forgot to mention that I rarely experience outbreaks anymore. During the first year or two after I first contracted it , I had maybe 5 outbreaks per year. Since that time I average only one a year and even that one is very brief due to Valtrex.

Early on, I sometimes wondered if I really had HSV, because luckily I didn't seem capable of transmitting it.....even to long term girlfriends.
We weren't always safe back then in those college/wasted pre-AIDS days and no one ever came to me and told me that they got it and probably from me.
Just lucky I guess or maybe it was transmitted and not noticed

[gracefromHHP]

Well if you aren't sunbathing naked we don't want to hear about it here...he he he  ( kidding! )

Stress and anxiety in most studies wasn't a trigger for most people's herpes to reoccur.  For most folks there's little rhyme or reason to when they get ob's but some folks do have obvious triggers though figuring them out can take time.  Take a look at what you are going in the sun - is it more only when you are at the beach it happens  ( uv light, sand rubbing your skin when it gets up in your suit, dehydration etc ) or does it seem to happen even if you are spending a lot of time out in the sun in long pants even?  Also consider taking a round of valtrex anytime you know you are going to be in the sun a lot - like on vacation or a day out with friends etc to try to ward off a full blown ob.

don't even remind me what I did back in college in the pre-hiv days!!!!  Oh wait, that's how I got herpes...he he he I'm just thankful that was all the parting gifts I came home with :)  

grace

[chrisalias]

Thanks Grace,...If I ever get an ob it usually has to do with recent sun exposure. Usually it takes a fair amount of sun and it does not have to be sand related. I play a lot of tennis at beach resorts and have had an ob with no beach time.
I'm one of those people who pays attention to their health(these days) and so I have noticed that it is really my only trigger.
Interesting, that those studies confirmed my thoughts regarding anxiety.

I usually bring Valtrex along now when I travel to Florida.

Pre-HIV days....yes we were lucky. I could have easily brought home worse in those college years(78-82). At the time I think I majored in Quaaludes and group sex.
I guess a large part of our generation did......and so we ended up with a whole new group of diseases

Take Care

[gracefromHHP]

You can even take "episodic suppressive therapy" - start it 5 days before you go on vacation and stay on it while on vacation and a few days after you get home.  It's a nice way to cover times when you know you are prone to recurrences.

And it wasn't our fault that we were so adorable in college that everyone wanted us right? he he he

grace